Right now the UK scene is making a fair fist at mirroring the diversity and inventiveness of its stateside counterpart. Not that it has ever aimed at the lowest common denominator - the lower profile of British hip hop has thankfully meant that a jiggy division has yet to develop (although perhaps that role is filled more than adequately by the shiny faux-dangerous bauble that is UK Garage). The undeniable underdog status of 'Brit hop' is such that skills and dignity are still the prime considerations above conspicuous displays of wealth and/or social status (because in general these do not apply). This can, at times, entail a degree of earnest po-facedness but artists like west country lunatics Aspects and our nearest equivalent to Edan, Kid Acne, are flying the flag for UK hip hop that is both innovative and fun.

Clad in a sleeve beautifully illustrated by the Kid himself, "Rap Traffic" is a showcase for the perfect musical partnership between the rapper and Brighton-based producer Req One (who also records solo for Warp - check out his latest album, "Sketchbook"). It would be no exaggeration to state that Req's production is somewhat on an old skool tip here - harsh drum machines boom proudly alongside rocking powerchords like refugees from some 1985 Rick Rubin nightmare while the Kid drops vintage science about "eating Iced Gems with my friends/and listening to Rocker's Revenge" - but the retro aspect is nicely balanced by the use of unusual samples, hints of dub and sly aural tricks like the pristine 'Get Carter'-ish harpsichord weaving in and out of the muddy funk of "Rubber Body Poppers". Recent single "Squirrel Hunters" begins with dubbed-out Pop Group/Mark Stewart vocalistics, leading into clipped beats and another free-associating verse from our pock-marked hero, this time challenging all comers with his "garlic hammer". "Rap Traffic" is appealingly lo-definition and homemade-sounding throughout (another Edan parallel), and while Kid Acne's high-volume declamatory flow might be an acquired taste, the sheer exuberance of his delivery is infectious.

The most astonishing cut "Wasteground Revival" comes on like a musical haemorrhage, another prime example of Req's mind-fucking dubwise production skills, here driven to psychedelic extremes. The sheer thickness of the sound reminds me of US hip hop stoners New Kingdom (what happened to etc.), swathes of metallic sonorities swirl around like oceans of mercury and generally make a mockery of my sixth-form music hack platitudes - but fuck, you try describing it. Kid himself comes on like an urban shaman disguised as a manic street sweeper with lines like "my raw teeth/brainwaves connect with/ley lines".

At only 8 tracks deep "Rap Traffic' is a short album, but it's a singularly odd little gem that benefits from a lack of filler and leaves the listener wondering 'what the fuck was that?' before going back and checking if it really happened after all. Kid Acne is definitely a name to watch - buy this and let him make your world a little less logical.